Alzheimer's Disease: An Emerging Public Health Issue

A systemic approach to address the harm of Social Determinants of Health

Thursday, April 21

12-1PM

1 CHES Credit/1 CPH Credit Available

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Description:

In the United States alone, more than 6 million individuals are living with Alzheimer's disease and 16 million are serving as their unpaid caregivers.  The disease is a global crisis that impacts over 410,000 families statewide.  However, no one has to face this disease alone or without information. This workshop will provide an overview of the basics of Alzheimer's disease, including a review of risk factors, symptoms, stages and treatments.  We will explore how Alzheimer's has emerged as a public health issue and discuss strategies to intervene as well as helpful resources provided by the Alzheimer's Association.

Learning Objectives: 

•      Describe difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

•      Describe how Alzheimer's disease affects the brain including its risk factors, stages and treatments.

•      Describe how Alzheimer's disease is a public health issue and how it can be addressed through a public health approach.

•      Describe the programs, services and resources of the Alzheimer's Association.

Speakers Bios:

Erica Salamida has spent more than 20 years serving those impacted by Alzheimer's disease, including work in skilled nursing facilities developing specialized programming for those living with Alzheimer's disease and directing a memory care program in an assisted living community.  Erica is currently the Director of Community Outreach for the Coalition of seven Alzheimer's Association chapters in New York State.  In her role, Erica works to promote concern about Alzheimer's disease as a public health crisis and increase awareness of Alzheimer's education, training and support statewide.  Erica facilitates partnerships with healthcare professionals, long-term care providers, community agencies and other stakeholders to ensure new Yorkers receive the vital care and support they deserve.  Erica received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a second major in Adulthood and Aging Studies from SUNY Oneonta. Carianne Wilson is the Director of Community Partnerships for the Alzheimer's Association, Central New York Chapter.  Carianne facilitates caregiver education and training, caregiver support groups, and care consultations with individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.  Carianne assists in the recruitment and supervision of volunteers and conducts outreach with community gatekeepers across 14 counties in Central New York. Carianne is a trained community health professional with awards in Public Speaking and Excellence in Health Education.  She holds a masters degree in Community Health from SUNY Cortland.

Recruiting the Best: Beating The Competition To Hire People For Your Agency

Thursday May 19

12-1PM

1 CHES Credit/1 CPH Credit Available

Click Here to Register

Description:

The public health workforce has been depleted for decades, and COVID-19 has caused additional attrition due to stress, burnout, and harassment. There is now funding available to replenish the workforce, but leveraging it strategically requires understanding the specific talent needed to fill workforce gaps. At the same time, health departments are competing with other employers, including the private and nonprofit sectors, to hire candidates with specialized skills. Many job-seekers who would otherwise seek to work in health departments experience barriers to hiring, including slow and complex civil service hiring mechanisms.

In order to compete to hire top-quality candidates, government agencies must try innovative techniques. Understanding candidate motivation, creating or leveraging appealing recruitment marketing materials, leveraging the public service motivation of candidates, and highlighting the mission-driven of public health agencies can help agencies attract the best candidates. By benchmarking with the best recruitment strategies of organizations competing to hire candidates, and identifying practical tools that can be used by health departments, participants will leave with a concrete plan of action for recruiting top talent to their agency.

The research basis for this workshop comes from several recent studies—an analysis of 39,000 job postings for public health graduates, an analysis of employment outcomes of public health graduates, and additional research on hiring needs of government health departments.

Learning Objectives: 

•      Describe the industry/sector and occupational competition for key roles in public health

•      Identify 3 strategies used by competitor employers to hire candidates

•      Assess feasibility of recruitment strategies for your own agency/organization

Speaker Bio:  

Heather Krasna, PhD, EdM, MS, is the co-author of the book 101+ Careers in Public Health (3rd Edition) and author of Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service. She is the Assistant Dean of Career Services at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. With her 23 years' experience as a career coach, recruiter, public health workforce researcher, and nonprofit professional, she has seen what works to recruit new hires, and what doesn't. Krasna’s doctoral dissertation, “Public Health Graduates in the United States: Employment Outcomes and Employer Demand” included the largest-ever employment data collection on public health graduates in history, and the largest analysis of job postings from employers seeking to hire these graduates. She also holds a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Leadership from Teachers College Columbia University and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from New School University.